Abstract

Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming Gram-positive intestinal inhabitant of many asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. In the past, it was thought to have a commensal relationship with us but recent research has cast doubt on this. C. difficile infection (CDI) is a major public health concern and is associated with a decrease in fecal microbial diversity. In addition, the disrupted gastroduodenal microbial ecosystem by first-line antibiotic therapy is a predisposing factor for bacterial overgrowth by C. difficile. Given its high prevalence and the increasing incidence of virulent C. difficile isolates worldwide, with concomitant increased mortality and morbidity, new interventions including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) are urgently needed. The main rationale for FMT is to rebalance the gut microbiota. Undoubtedly, FMT is safe and efficacious enough to recommend it to decision-makers in order to institute routine application in clinical practices.

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Funding Information

This study was supported by the Russian Government Program of Competitive Growth of Kazan Federal University. Albert A. Rizvanov was funded by state assignment 20.5175.2017/6.7 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation.